Opening structure of image device

ABSTRACT

An opening structure of image device comprises a body, at least a sliding track, at least a sliding sleeve, and a shield, wherein the sliding sleeve slide on the sliding track in order to drive synchronously the shield to achieve opening or closing status. Furthermore, the image device is entirely enclosed into the shield so as to prevent the image device from dust pollution and unexpected damage when the shield is at closing status. Meanwhile, the shield can be designed to be a special look, which will bring to user a fashionable feeling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an opening structure of image device, more particularly to an opening structure of image device preventing the image device from dust pollution and unexpected damage.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The digital devices, such as digital still cameras, digital camcorders and digital players, are very popular nowadays. Such digital devices are also rich in the type and specification, and each consumer can choose his favorite such digital devices easily. However, as a consumer, the fashionable appearances of such digital devices play a very important role.

Therefore, each designer of the digital device uses its best effort to create the distinguishable new product in order to attract the consumers. But, we look into the appearance of the digital devices in the market. Most of them may incorporate the body and lens, and such appearance is too common to make any impression on the consumers. Furthermore, the lens of the general digital device shall be free of the dust. When such device does not operate, the protection device will be active to protect its lens. The general practice is to incorporate the lens protective cover, or the one, which can protect the lens automatically while turning off the digital device. This structure can protect the lens from the dust effectively, regardless of the variance in the appearance of the digital device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the state of the art described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an opening structure of image device with a shield to prevent the image device from dust pollution and unexpected damage after the shield is at closing status in order to entirely enclose the image device which is immune to the problems described above.

It is another object of this invention to provide an opening structure of image device with a shield to bring to users a fashionable feeling for its special look.

In view of the above and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, there is provided according to a general aspect of the present invention an opening structure of image device, which comprises a body for putting a image device; a sliding track with a first end connected to a lateral side of said body and a second end extended out said body; and a sliding sleeve with a first end putted on said sliding track and a second end connected a shield, wherein said shield is at closing status when said sliding sleeve is located on said first end of said sliding track, and said shield is at opening status when said sliding sleeve is located on said second end of said sliding track.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said sliding track includes a limit unit and said sliding sleeve includes a fillister, which said limit unit is put into said fillister in order to limit said sliding sleeve to move between said first end and said second end of said sliding track when said sliding sleeve slides on said sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said limit unit is a bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said sliding track further includes a first lock unit located on said first end of said sliding track to fix said sliding sleeve at said first end of said sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said first lock unit is an elastic piece with bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said sliding track further includes a second lock unit located on said second end of said sliding track to fix said sliding sleeve at said second end of said sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said second lock unit is an elastic piece with bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said image device is selected from the group consisting of digital still camera, digital camcorder and digital player.

In view of the above and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, there is provided according to a general aspect of the present invention an opening structure of image device, which comprises a body for putting a image device; a first sliding track with a first end connected to one lateral side of said body and a second end extended out said body; a first sliding sleeve with a first end putted on said first sliding track and a second end connected a first shield; a second sliding track with a first end connected to the other lateral side of said body and a second end extended out said body; and a second sliding sleeve with a first end putted on said second sliding track and a second end connected a second shield, wherein it is at closing status that said first shield and said second shield connect each other when said first sliding sleeve is located on said first end of said first sliding track and said second sliding sleeve is located on said first end of said second sliding track, and it is at opening status that said first shield and said second shield disconnect each other when said first sliding sleeve is located on said second end of said first sliding track and said second sliding sleeve is located on said second end of said second sliding track.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said first sliding track includes a limit unit and said first sliding sleeve includes a fillister, which said limit unit is put into said fillister in order to limit said first sliding sleeve to move between said first end and said second end of said first sliding track when said first sliding sleeve slides on said first sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said limit unit is a bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said second sliding track includes a limit unit and said second sliding sleeve includes a fillister, which said limit unit is put into said fillister in order to limit said second sliding sleeve to move between said first end and said second end of said second sliding track when said second sliding sleeve slides on said second sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said limit unit is a bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said first sliding track further includes a first lock unit located on said first end of said first sliding track to fix said first sliding sleeve at said first end of said first sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said first lock unit is an elastic piece with bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said first sliding track further includes a second lock unit located on said second end of said first sliding track to fix said first sliding sleeve at said second end of said first sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said second lock unit is an elastic piece with bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said second sliding track further includes a third lock unit located on said first end of said second sliding track to fix said second sliding sleeve at said first end of said second sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said third lock unit is an elastic piece with bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said second sliding track further includes a fourth lock unit located on said second end of said second sliding track to fix said second sliding sleeve at said second end of said second sliding track.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said fourth lock unit is an elastic piece with bump.

Base on the idea described above, wherein said first shield and said second shield connect magnetically.

Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said image device is selected from the group consisting of digital still camera, digital camcorder and digital player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates the three-dimensional view of the opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is at closing status;

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the three-dimensional view of the opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is at opening status;

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates the structure view of the opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is at opening status; and

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates the structure view of the opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is at closing status.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The sample embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail. Nevertheless, it should be recognized that the present invention can be practiced in a wide range of other embodiments besides those explicitly described, and the scope of the present invention is expressly not limited except as specified in the accompanying claims.

Please refer to FIG. 1A and 1B, the three-dimensional views of he opening structure of image device at closing and opening status respectively according to the embodiment of the present invention are schematically shown. When the image device 1 is enclosed with the first shield 2 and the second shield 3, the users see only the outline of two shields as a baseball. But the shape of the shields is not limited as specified in FIG. 1A, the designer can design any shapes for the shields. Only it can be achieve the purpose that the image device can be enclosed with the shields and the users see only the outline of the shields after the shields are at closing status. If the user wants to use the image device 1, he opens the first shield 2 left and the second shield 3 right, then the image device 1 is presented as shown in FIG. 1B. The above shields are not limited as being opened from the middle position of the opening structure, opening the first shield 2 left or opening the second shield 3 right. The designer can design a single shield to enclose the image device and be opened from any position.

Referring to FIG. 2A, which is the structure view of the opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is at opening status. The opening structure 4 includes a body 40, at least a sliding track 42, at least a sliding sleeve 44, and a first shield 2. The body 40 is used to put the image device 1. The first end of the sliding track 42 is connected to a lateral side of the body 40 and the second end of the sliding track 42 is extended out the body 40. The first end of the sliding sleeve 44 is putted on the sliding track 42 and the second end of the sliding sleeve 44 is connected the first shield 2. So the sliding sleeve 44 can slide right or left on the sliding track 42 and drive synchronously the first shield 2. It is the better embodiment of the present invention to offer the combination of two sliding tracks 42 and two sliding sleeves 44. It is better that they are put at the opposite ends of the body 40 to control the moving of the first shield 2 and the second shield 3 separately as shown in FIG. 2A. When two sliding sleeves 44 are located on the first ends of two sliding tracks 42 and the first shield 2 and the second shield 3 are connected each other, the opening structure is at closing status. When two sliding sleeves 44 are located on the second ends of two sliding tracks 42 and the first shield 2 and the second shield 3 are disconnected each other, the opening structure is at opening status.

Besides, the sliding track 42 has a limit unit 420 and the sliding sleeve 44 has a fillister 440, wherein the limit unit 420 is put into the fillister 440 when the sliding sleeve 44 slides on the sliding track 42. It can position the sliding sleeve 44 between the first end and the second end of the sliding track 42 for avoiding the sliding sleeve 44 to take off the sliding track 42 to damage the opening structure of image device 40. The limit unit 420 is a bump in FIG. 2A, but it can be protruding spot, hook and other elements with similar function.

The sliding track 42 can further include the first lock unit 422 located at the first end and the second lock unit 424 located at the second end. When the sliding sleeve 44 slides to the first end of the sliding track 42, the first lock unit 422 can fix sliding sleeve 44 at the first end of the sliding track 42. Similarly, when the sliding sleeve 44 slides to the second end of the sliding track 42, the second lock unit 424 can fix sliding sleeve 44 at the second end of the sliding track 42. The first and second lock units 422,424 can be a bump, but they can be protruding spots, hooks and other elements with similar function.

Next referring to FIG. 2B, which is the structure view of the opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is at closing status. The two sliding sleeves 44 of opening structure 4 are located on the first ends of two sliding tracks 42, so the first shield 2 and the second shield 3 are connected each other to enclose the image device 1, as shown in FIG. 1A. It is the better embodiment of the present invention that the first shield 2 and the second shield 3 should have respectively a magnetic element to attract each other (not shown in the figures).

Although the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from what is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims. 

1-23. (canceled)
 24. An opening structure, comprising: a body; a first and a second sliding track, each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and second sliding track are coupled to the body; a first shield coupled to the second end of the first sliding track; a second shield coupled to the second end of the second sliding track, wherein the first shield and the second shield are adapted to travel along said first and second sliding tracks respectively, to substantially close around said body.
 25. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sides, and the first and second sliding tracks are coupled to substantially opposite sides of said body.
 26. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the first and second sliding tracks include a limit unit adapted to limit the range of motion of the respective sliding tracks.
 27. The opening structure of claim 26, wherein the limit units of the first and second sliding tracks cooperate with fillisters disposed on the respective sliding tracks to limit the range of motion of the respective sliding tracks.
 28. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the wherein the first and second sliding tracks each include a lock adapted to lock the sliding tracks in a position.
 29. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the first and second shield each include a magnet adapted to hold the first and second shield in a position.
 30. A digital camera, comprising: a digital camera chassis; and an opening structure body coupled to the digital camera chassis, comprising; a first and a second sliding track, each having a first and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and second sliding track are coupled to the body; a first shield coupled to the second end of the first sliding track; a second shield coupled to the second end of the second sliding track; wherein the first and the second shield are adapted to travel along said first and second sliding tracks respectively to substantially close around said digital camera.
 31. The opening structure of claim 30, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sides, and the first and second sliding tracks are coupled to substantially opposite sides of said body.
 32. The opening structure of claim 31, wherein the first and second sliding tracks include a limit unit adapted to limit the range of motion of the respective sliding tracks.
 33. The opening structure of claim 32, wherein the limit units of the first and second sliding tracks cooperate with fillisters disposed on the respective sliding tracks to limit the range of motion of the respective sliding tracks.
 34. The opening structure of claim 33, wherein the wherein the first and second sliding tracks each include a lock adapted to lock the sliding tracks in a position.
 35. The opening structure of claim 34, wherein the first and second shield each include a magnet adapted to hold the first and second shield in a position.
 36. An apparatus, comprising: means for moving a first shield from a first position to a second position; means for moving a second shield from a first position to a second position; and means for locking the first and second shield in the second position to enable using a digital device.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising: means for moving a first shield from the second position to the first position; means for moving a second shield from the second position to the first position; and means for coupling the first and second shield to substantially enclose the digital device. 